Dispenser apparatus



July 24, 1962 H. BURKS ETAL 3,045,719

DISPENSER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 18, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 e WI "ILA

' INVENTORS HOWARD L, BURKS THOMAS E. STEWART JR.

Touflmm' fi'wflww ATTORNEYS y 1962 H. L. BURKS ETAL 3,045,719

DISPENSER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 18, 1959 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HulullINVENTORS HOWARD L. BURKS T 0 S E, STEWARTJR. BY with, 52M

ATTORNEYS Unite rates 3,045,719 DISPENSER APPARATUS Howard L. Burks,1307 S. Fountain Ave., and Thomas Stewart, Jr., 2055 Kenton St., both ofSpringfield, 10

Filed Dec. 18, 1959, Ser. No. 860,561 7 Claims. Sl. 141-104) Thisinvention relates to dispensing machines and more particularly to adispensing machine for a combination of ice particles and a flavoringliquid, the combination normally being dispensed into a cup, such as adrinking cup.

Small ice particles are used in the serving of chilled drinks and alsoin a refreshment termed a snow cone which comprises a flavored syruppoured over the small ice particles. Small ice particles such as crushedice, and up to and including small cubes having a dimension of about /2inch on a side, are normally dispensed by hand, as some difficulty hasheretofore been encountered in attempting suitably accurate machinedispensing. A difliculty with the dispensing of ice particles such asdescribed from a compartment containing the ice particles is thetendency of the particles to cohere together even though the temperaturebe well below the freezing point. This coherence may be upset andaccurate dispensing achieved if the ice particles are agitated and ifthe measuring pocket of the dispenser is suitably formed.

It is accordingly a primary object of this present invention to providea novel dispenser for ice particles; it is to be understood that theterm ice particles as used herein and in the claims is intended to applyto crushed ice, ice chips and ice cubes having a dimension ofsubstantially /2 inch per side.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a dispenser inwhich the measured dispensed quantity of ice cubes may be small, suchthat the measured quantity may be delivered to a drinking cup.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a dispenser forflavored, ice refreshments.

It is yet another object of the invention toprovide a dispenser whereinthe dispensing of the ice particles and flavoring liquid areautomatically controlled after initiation of the dispensing operation.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device of invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the structure of FIGURE 1, with parts removed,illustrating the arrangement of the interior of the structure of theinvention;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view, with parts broken away, illustrating acup dispenser for use in the apparatus of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a somewhat enlarged and fragmentary view of the cupdispenser structure;

FIGURE 5 is a view illustrating the cooperative relationship ofcomponents of the structure of the invention in relation to iceparticles to be dispensed;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective and fragmentary view illustrading thecooperative relationship of the bin and measuring device of thestructure of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 isa perspective view illustrating the feed lines for theflavoring liquids in relation to the bin;

FIGURE8 is a perspective and fragmentary view showingv drive and controlcomponents; and

FIGURE 9 is a schematic view of an electric circuit arrangement usefulone embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 in FIGURE 1 designates avending machine case having a coin slot 2 Iand selection button units 3,4, 5. It will be appreciated that the number of selection button unitswill correspond *to the number of flavors to be dispensed.

The extraction door for removal of the dispensed material is indicatedat 6; the interior of this region or compartment is designated at 7(FIGURE 2).

On the upper side of the case 1 there is provided a hinged cover 8 forsupplying cups to the dispenser unit, a cup guide being most clearlyshown at 9 in FIGURE 3. A removable cover It) provides for entry to thecontainers for the storage of liquid flavoring, these containers beingindicated at 11, 12,13 in FIGURE 2.

Mounted atop the casing 1 is a unit 14, which is a commercial type icechip making machine for supplying crushed ice to the ice particlestorage compartment or bin 15 (FIGURE 2). Since such unit is acommercial device and since the crushed ice may be supplied to thecompartment 15 in any suitable manner, the machine 14- need not bedescribed in further detail.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 more specifically, the frame of the machine isillustrated generally by the numeral 13 and comprises a plurality ofVertically extending legs, braces 21 connecting the legs, and diagonalbraces at 22.

At the upper extremity of the frame 18 braces 23 sustain the frame. Alsocarried on the upper end of the frame is a support 25 for a plurality ofelectrical relay-s, indicated generally by the numeral 26, and whichrelays will be discussed more particularly hereinafter. Further, it isto be noted that the compartments 11, 12, 13 are supported by the upperend of the frame in any convenient manner, for example, by Welding orbolting to the frame structure.

intermediate the vertical height of the frame there is provided a panstructure 28 from which the compartment 7 depends. To the rear of thecompartment 7 there is provided a motor mounting plate 30. Compartment 7itself has side walls 32, 33, a rear wall 34, a bottom wall 35, and isopen at the top at 36. A slide 37 extends downwardly toward the bottomwall and cooperates with a guide 38 for supplying cups on to the bottomwall in upright position.

With more specific reference to the cup dispenser, whi is itselfindicated generally at 40 (FIGURE 3), it is to be noted that thedispenser shown includes a lower plate 41, and an upper plate 42, whichplates are retained together by bolt and nut combinations designated at43.

The plates are grooved to provide oppositely disposed slots 44 (FIGURE3), for receipt of a yoke 45 which slides in the slots and has thrustexerted thereto by the connecting rod 46. The yoke 45 comprisesessentially (FIGURE 4) opposed rails 47, which in the motion of the yokeboth support and provide for the dispensing of the cup, as designated at49.

It is to be noted that the cup 49 (FIGURE 4) has a rim 51 which isreceived on the upper lips 52 of the rails 47. Upon motion of the railsrelative to the plurality of superposed cups (FIGURE 3), the stack ofcups drop to lips 53; then upon reversal of the motion the lowermost cupis severed from the stack by lip 52 and it drops between lips 53, 54 toslide 3-7. The stack of cups is then supported by lips 52.

The cup, as will be most clearly noted from FIGURE 5, is deposited in anupright position on the support guide 38 on the bottom wall 35 ofcompartment 7. The bin 56, having sloping rear wall 57, also opens intothe compartment 7 for feeding material to the cup. This him, as

will be most clearly noted from FIGURES 6 and 7, has side Walls 58 and aforward wall 59 which is open to define at 60 the lower opening ofcompartment 15. Upwardly turned portions 61 in spaced relationshipdefine a narrowed opening 62 for the passage of ice particles to a cuppositioned on guide 38.

The bin 56 is provided with a measuring roller 64- having shaft portions65 which are journalled in bearings 66 (FIGURE 2) for smooth rotation ofthe roller. The roller 64 has a measuring pocket in the form of aV-shaped slot designated at 68 (FIGURE 6) and this slot, in the courseof the operation of the machine, is filled with crushed ice indicated at69 (FIGURE It is considered important that the sides of this measuringpocket 68 be substantially rectilineal and that an apex be formed by thesides; preferably this is a true V. However, the apex may have a slightrounding, if desired. Other shapes of slots tend to inhibit release ofthe ice particles.

The roller 64, as shown, is tangent to the inclined wall and closes thelower opening of compartment or bin to inhibit the passage of iceparticles through the opening. The measuring pocket or V-shaped slothaving the rectilineal sides terminating in a common apex and designatedat 68, in the inoperative condition of the device (FIG- URE 5) fronts onthe ice particles 69. However as illustrated particularly in FIGURE 5the ice particles tend to cohere and cavitate about the measuring pocketand agitation is necessary to insure filling of the pocket. Suchagitation is afforded by energization of motors 82a and 84a of prongagitators 82, 84, the shafts of which extend parallel to the axis ofroller 64.

Ice is dispensed in the rotation of the roller 64 through the loweropening 60 and slot 62 to the cup in position on the bottom wall 35,wiper guard 70 being provided to engage the surface of the roller 64 andlimit the quantity of material dispensed. Wiper guard 70 projects fromthe forward wall rearwardly toward the inclined rear wall and engagesagainst roller 64. It is thus positioned to prevent entry of ice betweenthe forward wall and roller.

The mechanism for feeding flavoring liquids to the cups is shown mostclearly in FIGURES 2 and 7. Thus a conduit 72 has a nozzle 73 (FIGURE 6)and communicates with a header 74 (FIGURE 7) into which conduits 75, 76,77 lead respectively through solenoid valves 78, 79, 80. Conduits 75,76, 77 communicate, as most clearly shown in FIGURE 2, respectively,with the containers 11, 12, 13 which retain the flavoring liquids. Theliquid dispensing action is effected under the influence of gravity inthe operation of the device.

For operation a first motor 86 driving through a gear reduction box 88actuates a shaft 89 carrying cam 90. Connecting rod 46 for yoke 47 ofthe cup dispenser is secured to cam 90 for movement by link 91. In thecourse of rotation cam 90 is arranged to engage a normally closed switch93 mounted on a support 94 and to which switch detailed reference willbe made in the description of FIG- URE 9.

An elbow drive 95 having shaft portions 96, 97 and a cam dog 98 isarranged for driving of roller 64 (FIG- URE 8). Dog 98 in its rotationengages a normally open switch 99 and serves to maintain the switchclosed for a predetermined period of time. As will be noted inconnection with FIGURE 9 switch 99 controls the flavoring liquid flow.Switch 99 is itself supported on motor plate 30 by securing to flange100.

To operate the device a purchaser deposits a coin in the slot 2(FIGURE 1) which is effective to close the coin switch designated inFIGURE 9 at C8. This provides power from service main line L-l to coilC-1 of relay R-l through the return service main line L-2.Simultaneously with the energization of the coil C-1 power is applied tothe agitator motor 82a, 84-a, which then function to urge ice particlesto the measuring pocket 68 of the roller 64.

Energization of the coil C-l closes the contacts of the relay R-l, whichcontacts are designated a1, b-l. Contact a-1 is directly connected tothe service main L-l and accordingly line power is applied through coilC-l to hold it energized, after Q8. has automatically opened afterdeposit of the coin. Line power is also applied through the contacts12-1 to line L-3.

The relays designated generally at R-2, R-3 and R-4, and illustratedgenerally at 26 in FIGURE 2, are effective to control energization ofmotor 86 and solenoids 78,

79, 80, as well as to permit selection of the specific flavor of liquiddesired. In this connection it is to be noted that the liquid may be arelatively thin syrup for drinking purposes, or may be a relativelyheavy syrup for snow cones and the like.

Since all relays R2, R-3 and R-4 function in the same manner, specificreference will be made only to the operation of one, and similardesignations have been applied to the contacts of each, except for thesuflix numerals on the contacts, which sutfixes specifically relate aspecific contact to a specific relay.

Assuming that the purchaser closes the button switch at 3, power will beapplied through relay coil C-2 from line L-3 to line L-5, L-6 and therelay R-S, line L-S, and normally closed switch 93 to the service mainline L-2.

Energization of the coil C2 closes the contacts of the relay R-2 andpower is applied to the motor 86 from L-4 through closed contacts C-2and line L-7 to line L-S, switch 93, and service main L-2.Simultaneously power is applied from L-5 through contacts 41-2 and lineL-8 and coil C-5 of relay R5, line L-9 to LfiS, switch 93 and servicemain L-2.

Energization of the coil C-5 opens the contacts of relay R5, but thecoil C5 itself remains in circuit through the contacts at a-2. Openingof the contacts of R-5 is effective to prevent operation of the unit byclosing of the button switches, 4, 5, or by the closing of the buttonswitch 3, a second time.

With the starting of motor 86, the yoke 45 of the cup dispenser 40 isurged inwardly (FIGURE 3) to move the yoke relative to the stacked cups,and upon withdrawal of the yoke as the motor rotates a cup is dispensed,as indicated hereinbefore. This cup then moves down the slide 37 andbecomes positioned as indicated in FIG- URE 5.

Energization of the motor 86 turns the roller 64 to present themeasuring pocket 68 to the lower opening 60 of the ice particle storagecompartment 15. The ice particles drop through the opening 60 and areguided by the inturned opening 61 to the opening 62 and thence into thecup 49 (FIGURE 5).

In the course of rotation of the roller 64 the wiper guard 70 serves tolimit the quantity of ice particles by preventing ice particles, otherthan those in the measuring pocket, from passing to the lower opening60. Simultaneously with the energization of motor 86 the cam 98 beginsto rotate and after deposit of the ice particles the cam closes theswitch 99.

With the contacts closed at b2, solenoid 78 is energized through theswitch 99 and switch 93 to the service main L-2. Accordingly conduit 75is opened to the nozzle 73 and liquid flavoring flows to the cup 49(FIGURE 5) and over the ice particles in the cup.

The cam 98 is so shaped (FIGURE 8) as to permit the closure of theswitch 99 for a length of time suflicient for a predetermined quantityof the liquid flavoring to flow. Switch 99 is biased to an open positionand after passage of the cam the switch opens to its normal condition.Continued rotation of the motor causes the cam to engage the switch 93to open the same. This effectively disconnects the components of thecircuit, the relays being opened by springs as indicated at S in thedrawings. The device is then ready to service another customer and ifanother flavor is selected, such as that controlled by the solenoids 79or 80, relay R-3 and R-4, respectively, would function in the manner ofrelay R-2 as described.

It is to be noted that suitable heat insulation may be provided for thebin 15 in any convenient manner and that ice particles may be suppliedto the bin in any convenient manner. Further, the agitators may, ifdesired, be driven independently of the circuitry associated with thecoin slot, such that there is continual agitation of the ice particles.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and accordingly,it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention asmay fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dispenser for an ice particle-flavored liquid combination, aframe, an ice particle storage compartment on said frame and havingupper and lower open ends, means forming a gravity path for supplyingice particles toward said lower open end and including rectilineal sidewalls, a forward substantially vertical wall and an inclined rear 'wallof the storage compartment extending downwardly to the said lower openend, said inclined rear wall having a projection extending below andterminating rearwardly of the said forward wall, a roller within thecompartment closing said lower open end having the roller axis extendingtransversely of the compartment and the roller being normally effectiveto inhibit the passage of ice particles through said lower open end,said roller including a measuring pocket which extends axially the widthof the roller and has substantially a V-shape, means for effectingrotation of said roller to selectively present said measuring pocket tosaid lower opening and to the interior of said compartment, a wiperguard extending from the substantially vertical forward wall of thecompartment downwardly into contact with the roller, said wiper guardextending substantially the width of the compartment to prevent theaccumulation of ice particles between the substantially vertical forwardwall and wiper guard, dual agitator means in the compartment between thewiper guard and inclined rear wall for urging ice particles to saidroller and measuring pocket, a container on the frame adapted forretaining a source of a flavoring liquid, means for positioning areceiver for said ice particles and flavoring liquid below the saidlower opening of said compartment, a feed line extending from the saidcontainer through said projection of said inclined wall and terminatingin a nozzle below said lower opening of said compartment but above saidlast-mentioned means, valve means in said feed line for controlling theflow of said flavoring liquid, means effective upon rotation of saidroller through one complete revolution to stop the rotation of saidroller and the dispensing of ice particles through the said loweropening, and means synchronized with said roller rotation for openingand closing said valve means after the dispensing of the ice particleswhereby a quantity of flavoring liquid may be dispensed to dispensed iceparticles.

2. In a dispensing machine, a first means for dispensing a cup, a framesupporting said first means, a support on the frame for receiving adispensed cup, an ice particle storage compartment having a lower openend terminating above said support and arranged for dispensing iceparticles to a dispensed cup on the support, a roller closing said loweropen end of said compartment having the roller axis extendingtransversely of the compartment and the roller being normally effectiveto inhibit the passage of ice particles through said lower open end,said roller including a measuring pocket which extends axially of theroller and has substantially a V-shape, first power means connected tosaid roller for effective rotation of said roller to present saidmeasuring pocket to said lower opening, agitator means within thecompartment and above the roller for urging ice particles to said rollerand measuring pocket, second power means connected to the agitator meansfor driving the agitator means, a container on the frame adapted :forretaining a source of flavoring liquid, a gravity feed line extendingfrom the said container and terminating in a nozzle above said supportfor dispensing flavoring liquid to a dispensed cup on the said support,valve means in said feed line for controlling the flow of said flavoringliquid, means for initiating the operation of said second power means,means 0perative after operation of said second power means to initiatethe operation of said first power means, means operative in response tothe operation of the said first power means to open said valve meansbetween said con- 6 tainer and nozzle, and means responsive to theoperation of said first power means to terminate the operation of saidfirst power means and to close said valve means upon rotation of saidroller through one complete revolution.

3. In a dispenser for an ice particle-flavored liquid combination havinga cup dispenser and means for dispensing flavoring liquid into asupported dispensed cup, the structure comprising an ice particlestorage compartment having a lower open end, support means forsupporting a dispensed cup below said lower open end, an inclined rearwall of the storage compartment extending downwardly to the said loweropen end, side walls and a forward Wall of the compartment defining withthe said inclined rear wall a gravity path for supplying ice particlestoward said lower open end, a roller closing said lower open end havingthe roller axis extending transversely of the compartment and the rollerbeing effective to inhibit the passage of ice particles through saidlower open end, said roller including a measuring pocket which extendsaxially of the roller substantially the length of the roller and is in aV-shape, agitator means Within the compartment and above the roller forurging ice particles to said roller and measuring pocket, and dependinginturned portions of the side walls of the compartment providing anarrowed passage from the said lower opening toward said support forguiding ice particles to a cup on said support.

4. In an ice particle dispenser, a frame, an ice particle storagecompartment in said frame having a lower open end and having front,side, and rear walls, a roller in the compartment adjacent the lower endbut above the lower edge of said back walls extending transversely fromone end Wall to another and closing said lower end, said roller havingan axially extending measuring pocket formed in its periphery, said backWall being inclined toward said front wall at least with respect to theportion of the back wall from the roller downwardly, means cooperatingwith the inclined portion of the back wall forming an inwardly taperingchute means to direct ice particles discharged from said roller into acup or the like supported therebeneath, agitator means in thecompartment above the roller operable to break the ice particles apartand to feed them into said pocket, means for actuating said agitatormeans prior to commencing rotation of said roller, and means for drivingsaid roller through one revolution during which said pocket is carriedfrom a prior position where it opens upwardly into said compartmentaround to a second position where it drops the ice particles thereininto said chute means and then on around to said first position.

5. In an ice particle dispenser, a frame, an ice particle storagecompartment in said frame having a lower open end and having front,side, and rear walls, a roller in the compartment adjacent the lower endbut above the lower edge of said back walls extending transversely fromone end wall to another and closing said lower end, said roller havingan axially extending measuring pocket formed in its periphery, said backwall being inclined toward said front wall at least with respect to theportion of the back wall from the roller downwardly, means cooperatingwith the inclined portion of the back wall forming an inwardly taperingchute means to direct ice particles discharged from said roller into acup or the like supported therebeneath, agitator means in thecompartment above the roller operable to break the ice particles apartand to feed them into said pocket, means for actuating said agitatormeans prior to commencing rotation of said roller, means for drivingsaid roller through one revolution during which said pocket is carriedfrom a prior position where it opens upwardly into said compartmentaround to a second position where it drops the ice particles thereininto said chute means and then on around to said first position, liquidflavoring material dispensing means in an upper part of said frameincluding conduit means leading to a position in said chute means andterminating in a downwardly directed nozzle for supplying flavoringmaterial to ice particles dispensed from said roller, valve means insaid conduit means, and operated in response to rotation of said rollerfor opening said valve means after the ice particles have beendischarged from the pocket in said roller.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5 in which said flavoring materialdispensing means comprises a plurality of individual containers each fora diiferent flavor, said conduit means comprising a conduit leading fromeach container to said nozzle, said valve means comprising an individualvalve in each said conduit, and means operable for selecting the one ofsaid valves to be operated during rotation of said roller whilesimultaneously energizing the means for driving said roller.

7. A dispenser for ice particles comprising an ice particle storagecompartment having a lower open end through which ice particles aredispensed, a roller closing the said lower open end and agitator meansabove the said roller in the compartment, said roller having an axiallyextending groove providing a measuring pocket for receipt of iceparticles, and said agitator means comprising a pair of shafts havingtheir axes substantially parallel to that of the roller axis andincluding on each shaft prongs extending from the shaft in spacedrelation, one said shaft being above the other relative to said roller,and means for carrying out a dispensing operation comprising means foractuating said agitator means, means for then actuating said roller,means operable during rotation of the roller for halting said agitatormeans, and means operable after one complete revolution of said rollerand with the pocket thereof opening upwardly into said compartment forhalting said roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,497,772 Conklin June 17, 1924 2,545,614 Goldberg Mar. 20, 19512,713,442 McFarling et al July 19, 1955 2,863,590 Giesse Dec. 9, 1958FOREIGN PATENTS 484,702 France Oct. 31, 1917

